For the first time in four seasons, coach Marty Rowe is trying to direct his 8th-ranked nationally NAIA team without its leader on the court. Lindsey Sparks, the Lee University senior guard, went down with a torn ACL in a Feb. 11 game against Southern Wesleyan University.
Sparks had been a starter for coach Rowe for 1 1/2 seasons at Brescia University. When Rowe accepted the Lee position, Sparks and four of her Brescia teammates immediately followed. She has been a major factor in helping turn the Lady Flames into an instant winner.
Before joining the Lady Flames, she helped Brescia make the Final Four in the NAIA National Tournament two years ago. If the Lee club makes the National Tournament again this season, it'll mark the fourth straight year Sparks' name has appeared in the championship program.
The fiery guard hopes to make one final college basketball appearance, if the Lady Flames make Jackson, Tenn. and the NAIA National Tournament. "Some doctors say I'd do more damage to the knee, others say I can't do any more," said Sparks. "I'd love to step on that national tournament floor one more time. I've been rehabbing hard to get the opportunity."
"I've known her parents since Lindsey was seven years old," said coach Rowe. "I recruited her right out of high school. Lindsey moved into our starting line-up as a freshman when one of her Brescia teammates went down with the same type of injury. She's played in 131 basketball games for me and in 118 straight as a starter."
"I had other opportunities when I signed with coach Rowe and went to Brescia," admitted Sparks. "I weighed all the offers and I have no regrets about my decision to attend Brescia and then transfer to Lee." She did add that she hesitated when it came time to leave her home state of Kentucky and come to Tennessee. "My parents (Jeff and Meloney) have traveled (four hours) to almost all my Lee games. I feel I'm lucky to be at Lee. It is a great school and I look forward to completing my education here."
Sparks was far from being your average college player. She scored over 1,000 points at Brescia and Lee and helped the Bearcats and Lady Flames win 123 games. Coach Rowe used her for over 30 minutes in most games. Not only was she one of his team's leading scorers, she was the team's leader in assists, paced the Lady Flames in deflections on defense and averaged over four rebounds per game. "But most importantly she brought so much energy to our team," said the coach. "She loves the game and gave it all she had."
The injury occurred on a play Rowe and Sparks' teammates had seen so many times. She made a steal at midcourt and raced for the basket. As she approached the goal she was knocked slightly off balance by a defender. Her body went flying and the knee took the blunt end of the fall.
"I knew it was bad," said Rowe. "I have seen so many of these types of injuries. When good players go down and don't jump right back up, there's usually something bad wrong."
A few days later Rowe took Sparks to the hospital and the doctors ran the MRI. As expected, it showed the clean ACL tear. "Coach Rowe held back as I cried," said Sparks. "He was strong for me. He also talked to my parents and gave them the report. When I had trouble telling the team, he stepped in and finished the details."
Since the injury the Lady Flames have played twice and pushed their record to 24-5. "Lindsey is going to stay with the team and help instruct the girls," said the coach. "I'm not ruling out the chance that she might make a brief appearance, if we make the national tournament. Right now, we are trying to keep a positive attitude. She's been a driving force for this team and has continued to be a great influence for her teammates."
"It's tough, sitting there on the bench," she admits. "I'm trying to encourage my teammates. I hate my senior season was cut short, but I've had a lot of great thrills in college basketball. I'll never forget playing in the Final Four at the NAIA Tournament, and I'll never forget helping coach Rowe and my teammates get things turned around here at Lee."
Sparks says that when she completes her degree, she'll likely return to the Kentucky area and teach. "I can't see myself staying away from ball," she noted. "I love teaching and being involved with sports. This was a devastating blow, but I've still got my entire life to live."
One thing is for certain, Sparks will return next season and serve as a student assistant for the Lady Flames. She'll have knee surgery as soon as the season ends and Rowe wants to make sure his leader is fully recovered and ready to help direct the Lady Flames in 2006-07.
